Not-So-Strange Bedfellows: Courage and Compassion

Compassion and Courage

Courage and Compassion: The Dynamic Duo

'Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.'  Confucius

We all need two things in equal measure to engage in open, honest, direct communication: courage and compassion. Yet most of us come to the table favoring one over the other.

Some of us have plenty of compassion and we need more courage (we're too nice), while others have plenty of courage and need to develop more compassion (you're too blunt). 

A balance of compassion and courage is needed by all of us if we are to be effective communicators who meet the world head on.

Choose to Live Greatly--Embrace Your Courage and Compassion Daily

'The principles of living greatly include the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and trial with humility.' Thomas S. Monson

Where will You Bring Compassion and Courage Today? 

Compassion is an emotion firmly rooted in the NOW, or present moment, unlike negative emotions, like fear, that shifts your focus to the past or future.  

To follow through on being compassionate NOW you must have the courage--or heart--to sidestep fear by moving your attention back to the present moment to act today. 

Start each day questioning where and how you'll bring your compassion and courage to deal with the important issues before you. 

No one does conflict perfectly. No one communicates perfectly. No one deals with life perfectly. We're all just practicing every time we engage with other people. 

'A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.'   James E. Faust

Take Heart 

Treasures of the Heart~Courage and Compassion~Go Hand-in-Hand

Both 'courage' and 'compassion' are words originating from Latin roots. 

The origin of Old French 'courage' is from the Latin 'Cor' meaning heart; 'compassion' meaning co-suffering or 'to suffer together' originates from the Latin 'com' meaning 'with', and 'passion' derived from passus or 'patient' meaning one who suffers.

When we demonstrate our courage we have the heart to face difficulty, danger or pain head on--despite fear. Or as Mark Twain said, 'Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear'.

'There are no greater treasures than the highest human qualities such as compassion, courage and hope. Not even tragic accident or disaster can destroy such treasures of the heart.'  Daisaku Ikeda

Compassion 

'The unfettered yearning that responds to the world with noble heart, the understanding that others are just like us.

 Radiating from basic goodness like the sun, compassion lifts us above self-involvement and brings us out of the Dark Age. Just like the sun behind a cloud, it shines through our self-centeredness.'  

 Sakyong Mipham

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.

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